Archaeological Site Park of Caoxieshan opens

The Archaeological Site Park of Caoxieshan, built based on the Caoxieshan Site, a cultural heritage site located at the south bank of Yangcheng Lake, SIP, opened on June 28.

Caoxieshan Site, with a preserved area of 199,000 square meters and a construction control area of 203,000 square meters, is hailed as the “center of prehistoric culture” in Jiangnan. The archaeological activities here have provided important basis for studying the history at the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and the regions around the Taihu Lake.

Wang Wei, member of Academic Divisions at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and president of the council of the Institute of Archaeology of CASS, said the discovery of the Caoxieshan Site has led to a deep understanding of the early cultures in the Yangtze River and Taihu areas, especially the Liangzhu culture which represented the peak of prehistoric cultural and social development in the Yangtze River Delta.

At the opening ceremony, a volunteer team consisting of 25 members was formally formed. The volunteers from different walks of life will serve at the site to help the visitors better understand the historic and cultural heritage.

Moreover, the park was declared the “After-school Education Base for Children and Teenagers in SIP”.[MORE]

Visitors walk through the historical relics to trace the source
of Jiangnan culture

Before its opening to the public, the Archaeological Site Park of Caoxieshan was opened to media on June 24.

As the most complete site of Majiabang, Songze and Liangzhu cultures in Jiangnan, the Caoxieshan Site is called the “scaleplate of the prehistoric culture of Jiangnan”. It is also “one of the sources of China’s rice farming culture” with the earliest discovered ancient rice fields equipped with an artificial irrigation system. Besides, the “number one jade Cong in China” was found here.

Since its discovery in 1956, the Caoxieshan Site has seen more than ten archaeological excavations, and by 2021, 239 Neolithic burials, 115 rice paddy remains and several house sites had been discovered, with 1200 pieces of various artifacts unearthed. Archaeologists believe it was the center of the prehistoric civilization in the Taihu Lake basin. In 2013, the Caoxieshan Site was included in the seventh list of major historical and cultural sites protected at the national level, the only one site in SIP on the list.

The core area of the park boasts an exhibition area of about 40,000 square meters. In addition to the Gate of Time, the Theme Exhibition and the archaeological sites and workstation, there is the replica of ancient rice fields around the exhibition hall...[MORE]

Caoxieshan Site is expected to become a brand of Jiangnan culture

The Caoxieshan Site is expected to become a brand of Jiangnan culture, and is therefore excavated in a very prudent way.

On Oct 30, 2021, Wang Wei, member of Academic Divisions at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and president of the council of the Institute of Archaeology of CASS, and over 10 archeological experts met at the Caoxieshan Site to brainstorm strategies for the study of the site and the building of the archaeological site park. Zhu Jiang, director of the Publicity Department and the United Front Work Department of CPC SIP Working Committee, was present.

Based on a tour around the Caoxieshan Site on the same day, the experts shared their opinions on the significance of the historical site for studying on the history and culture of the region south of the Yangtze River, and offered advice for the protection and utilization of the site and the planning of the park...[MORE]